Electrolyte Prices Fell Further This Week (February 2-5, 2026) [SMM Lithium Electrolyte Market Weekly Review]

Published: Feb 5, 2026 16:27
[SMM Lithium Battery Electrolyte Market Weekly Review: Electrolyte Prices Declined This Week (2026.2.2-2.5)] From February 2 to February 5, 2026, electrolyte prices declined. Considering the changing trends on the cost side and the supply-demand pattern, electrolyte prices were expected to decline further in the short term.

SMM February 5 News:

This week, the market price of electrolyte pulled back, with the average prices of electrolyte for ternary power batteries, LFP, and LMO at 33,500 yuan/mt, 31,750 yuan/mt, and 24,500 yuan/mt, respectively. Cost side, the core raw material for electrolyte, LiPF6, faced dual pressures from ample market supply and weakening demand, coupled with its previous price entering a downward trend. Purchase willingness among electrolyte enterprises remained low, further driving its price to continue declining. Meanwhile, prices of VC and some solvents also dropped due to weak downstream demand. Multiple downward pressures on the cost side gradually transmitted to the electrolyte product end, ultimately leading to a synchronous decline in electrolyte prices. Demand side, the industry is currently in the traditional off-season. Although demand for ESS battery cells remained stable, auto sales expectations in the power battery sector weakened. Combined with fewer working days in February, the overall production schedule of battery cell enterprises was scaled back, and electrolyte market demand also pulled back accordingly. Supply side, electrolyte enterprises continued the produce based on sales model. Affected by reduced orders from downstream battery cell manufacturers, enterprise operating rates were lowered accordingly, and production pulled back. Considering the current changes in the supply-demand pattern and the downward trend on the cost side, the market price of electrolyte is expected to continue its downward trend in the short term.

 

 

SMM New Energy Research Team

Wang Cong 021-51666838

Ma Rui 021-51595780

Feng Disheng 021-51666714

Lü Yanlin 021-20707875

Zhou Zhicheng 021-51666711

Xu Mengqi 021-20707868

Hu Xuejie 021-20707858

Chen Bolin 021-51666836

Wang Yizhou 021-51595909

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
[SMM Weekly Review] The cobalt sulphate market remained generally sluggish this week, but market sentiment for procurement recovered compared to the previous period, supported by positive news from the upstream mining sector.
1 hour ago
[SMM Weekly Review] The cobalt sulphate market remained generally sluggish this week, but market sentiment for procurement recovered compared to the previous period, supported by positive news from the upstream mining sector.
Read More
[SMM Weekly Review] The cobalt sulphate market remained generally sluggish this week, but market sentiment for procurement recovered compared to the previous period, supported by positive news from the upstream mining sector.
[SMM Weekly Review] The cobalt sulphate market remained generally sluggish this week, but market sentiment for procurement recovered compared to the previous period, supported by positive news from the upstream mining sector.
This week, the cobalt sulphate market remained largely sluggish overall. However, supported by positive news from the upstream mining sector, market purchasing sentiment showed some recovery compared to the previous period. Supply side, as the Chinese New Year holiday approaches, most smelters have successively arranged for production halts and maintenance. Combined with mining news strengthening bullish expectations for the future market, some enterprises have chosen to suspend quotations, while those maintaining quotations have raised their target prices to 96,000-98,000 yuan/mt. Demand side, due to concerns about a rapid price increase for cobalt sulphate after the holiday, downstream enterprises' purchase willingness has strengthened. It is reported that some companies' purchase intention prices for high-nickel cobalt sulphate have rebounded to 92,000 yuan/mt, while the purchase intention prices for low-nickel cobalt sulphate are in the range of 95,000-96,000 yuan/mt. Overall, as logistics gradually halt before the Chinese New Year, actual market transactions are expected to be quite limited next week, and cobalt sulphate prices are likely to remain largely stable. After the holiday, as downstream enterprises gradually resume procurement, prices may regain an upward trend.
1 hour ago
[SMM Weekly Review] The domestic refined cobalt market experienced limited overall changes this week, with spot prices fluctuating at lows.
1 hour ago
[SMM Weekly Review] The domestic refined cobalt market experienced limited overall changes this week, with spot prices fluctuating at lows.
Read More
[SMM Weekly Review] The domestic refined cobalt market experienced limited overall changes this week, with spot prices fluctuating at lows.
[SMM Weekly Review] The domestic refined cobalt market experienced limited overall changes this week, with spot prices fluctuating at lows.
This week, the domestic refined cobalt market saw limited overall changes, with spot prices fluctuating at lows. Supply side, affected by the decline in futures prices, mainstream smelters' spot premiums were too high, leading them to lower ex-factory prices; traders were bullish on the market outlook, hedgers raised spot-futures price spread quotes, while some unilateral speculators temporarily suspended quotations to observe the market. Demand side, as prices gradually stabilized, purchase willingness among some end-users recovered, with mainstream transaction prices concentrated in the range of 415,000–420,000 yuan/mt. Fundamentally, this round of price correction in domestic refined cobalt was mainly driven by market capital fluctuations and the broad decline in other metal prices. In the short term, as cobalt intermediate products still cannot arrive at ports in large quantities, the tight supply pattern of upstream raw materials has not fundamentally changed, and refined cobalt prices are expected to remain supported on the downside.
1 hour ago
[SMM Weekly Review] The cobalt intermediate products market remained in a state of "quoted prices without actual transactions" this week, with prices stabilizing in the range of $25.5-$26.0/lb.
1 hour ago
[SMM Weekly Review] The cobalt intermediate products market remained in a state of "quoted prices without actual transactions" this week, with prices stabilizing in the range of $25.5-$26.0/lb.
Read More
[SMM Weekly Review] The cobalt intermediate products market remained in a state of "quoted prices without actual transactions" this week, with prices stabilizing in the range of $25.5-$26.0/lb.
[SMM Weekly Review] The cobalt intermediate products market remained in a state of "quoted prices without actual transactions" this week, with prices stabilizing in the range of $25.5-$26.0/lb.
The cobalt intermediate products market remained in a state of nominal pricing with thin trading this week, with prices holding steady in the range of $25.5–26.0/lb. News such as the US "stockpiling plan" and the acquisition of certain cobalt mining rights of overseas miners by US-funded enterprises heightened market concerns about cobalt raw material shortages in China in 2026, strengthening suppliers' willingness to hold prices firm. However, as the year-end approaches, some smelters have entered the stage of clearing production lines and preparing for shutdowns, leading to a noticeable decline in purchase willingness and resulting in sluggish actual market transactions. Overall, against the backdrop of large-scale arrivals of cobalt intermediate products remaining distant, increased geopolitical risks are expected to exacerbate the structural tightness of domestic intermediate products, maintaining upward pressure on prices.
1 hour ago
Register to Continue Reading
Gain access to the latest insights in metals and new energy
Already have an account?sign in here